About the town

The old quarter of the village lies within ramparts that have been beautifully restored, and its winding alleyways still give one a feeling of bygone days : Louis XIII doorways, vestiges of the medieval castle, a superb recently restored church, part Romanesque and part Gothic.

With its circular layout, so typical of market towns in Languedoc, it is apply called a "circulade".

In summer, the clocks go back a thousand years and the town becomes the stage for a medieval fête where town-folk mingle with acrobats in period costume as they relax in the shade of ancient walls, by a foutain with a hundred-year-old mulberry tree.

But the town is also very much part of 21th century, as witness its thri-ving new districts and the busy shop-ping centres and hotels that cater for local people and tourists alike.

Balaruc-Le-Vieux, proud of its rich past, welcomes the present with quiet confidence as it looks to the future.

Activities :
The Gardiole hills offer walkers splendid itineraries through the garrigue (wild, Mediterranean scrubland).

Other activities include fishing, horse riding and pétanque (bowls).

Festival - Events :
20 June : National Music Day
13 July : Bastille Day
19 July : Village Fair
20 July : Equestrian Event,
21 July : Medieval Event,
15 August : Election of Miss Balaruc